Gardenia plant named ‘PS-2013-3’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Gardenia  named ‘PS-2013-3’ that is characterized by its compact plant habit that is equal in height and width, its dense self-branching plant habit without pruning its large single flowers that bloom in late spring with two full spring cycles under ideal conditions followed by spot blooming through the fall, its glossy dark green foliage, its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7 with no winter foliage freezing, and its good resistance to root rot.

Botanical classification: Gardenia jasminoides.

Variety denomination: ‘PS-2013-3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gardeniajasminoides. The new cultivar will be referred to hereafter by itscultivar name, ‘PS-2013-3’. ‘PS-2013-3’ is a new cultivar of Gardeniagrown for use as a landscape shrub.

The new cultivar of Gardenia is a selection from a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Grand Saline, Tex. The objectivesof the breeding program are to create new jasmine cultivars with goodcold hardiness, floriferous blooming habits, glossy green foliage, andcompact plant habits.

‘PS-2013-3’ originated from open pollination of Gardenia jasminoides‘Kleim's Hardy’ (not patented) in May of 2011. The male parentage istherefore unknown. ‘PS-2013-3’ was selected as a single unique plant inMay of 2013 from amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished bysemi-hardwood stem cuttings under the direction of the Inventor in GrandSaline, Tex. in July of 2013. Asexual propagation by semi-hardwood stemcuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar arestable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘PS-2013-3’ as a new and unique cultivar of Gardenia.

-   -   1. ‘PS-2013-3’ exhibits a compact plant habit that is equal in        height and width.    -   2. ‘PS-2013-3’ exhibits a dense self-branching plant habit        without pruning.    -   3. ‘PS-2013-3’ exhibits large single flowers that bloom in late        spring with two full spring cycles under ideal conditions        followed by spot blooming through the fall.    -   4. ‘PS-2013-3’ exhibits glossy dark green foliage.    -   5. ‘PS-2013-3’ exhibits cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone        7 with no winter foliage freezing.    -   6. ‘PS-2013-3’ exhibits good resistance to root rot.

The female parent of ‘PS-2013-3’ differs from ‘PS-2013-3’ in havingwider leaves, in having longer internodes, and in having a less dense,more open plant habit. ‘PS-2013-3’ can be most closely compared to theGardenia jasminoides cultivars ‘Whispering Pines’ (not patented) and‘Double Mist’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,507). ‘Whispering Pines’ issimilar to ‘PS-2013-3’ in being resistant to root rot, and in having abloom season that begins in the spring followed by spot blooming throughthe fall. ‘Whispering Pines’ differs from ‘PS-2013-3’ in having widerleaves, in having longer internodes, in having double flowers, and inhaving an open growth habit that is not self-branching. ‘Double Mint’ issimilar to ‘PS-2013-3’ in having a long bloom season and in having aplant habit that is equal in height and width. ‘Double Mint’ differsfrom ‘PS-2013-3’ in having leaves that are shorter in length, in havingleaves with more rounded apices, in having double flowers, in havingleaves with less pronounced veins, and in having dull green foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Gardenia. The photographs weretaken of a 1 year-old plant as grown outdoors in a two-gallon containerin Grand Saline, Tex.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of‘PS-2013-3’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘PS-2013-3’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Gardenia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 1 year-old plants of the newcultivar as grown outdoors in two-gallon containers in Grand Saline,Tex. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Four weeks in mid spring (with two full            spring cycles under ideal conditions) followed by spot            flowering through fall in Grand Saline, Tex.        -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Compact and very densely branched.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 91 cm in height and width            as a mature plant in the landscape.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.        -   Diseases and pests.—Good resistance to root rot            (Phytophthora spp) has been observed.        -   Propagation.—Semi-hardwood stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.        -   Root description.—Fibrous roots, 160A to 165A in color.        -   Root development.—About 7 weeks to root and 18 months to            finish in a 3-gallon container.-   Branch description:    -   -   Stem color.—Young; 138A, maturing; 138A with woody            striations of 199A and 165A, mature wood (at base); 199A and            165A.        -   Stem surface.—Young; glabrous, maturing; striated with woody            streaks, mature wood; moderately coarse bark.        -   Branching.—5 lateral branches emerging from base, an average            of 4 secondary branches per lateral branch.        -   Internode length.—Variable, up to 4.5 cm.        -   Stem size.—Lateral branches; an average of 17 cm in length            and 5 mm in width, secondary branches; up to 11 cm in length            and 3 mm in width.        -   Stipules.—Broadly elliptic in shape, 2 fused into sheath            above leaf attachment, base truncate, an average of 8 3 mm            in length and width, membranous surface, color 165A and            somewhat translucent.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf type.—Simple.        -   Leaf shape.—Obovate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Whorls.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, not conspicuous, color matches leaf            coloration on upper and lower surface.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surface; 143B, mature            upper surface; 137A, mature lower surface; 148B.        -   Leaf number.—An average of 14 per lateral branch.        -   Leaf surface.—Shiny and glabrous on upper surface and            glabrous and dull on lower surface.        -   Leaf substance.—Thick.        -   Petioles.—Short, an average of 3 mm in length and 2 mm in            diameter, color 144A, surface glabrous and shiny.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary from upper leaf axils.        -   Flower number.—An average of 3 to 4 per lateral branch (in            different stages of opening).        -   Flower fragrance.—Strong, pleasant fragrance typical of            Gardenia.        -   Flower longevity.—An average of 4 to 5 days, depending on            temperature.        -   Flower type.—Salviform with lobes rotate.        -   Flower size.—An average of 5.5 cm in diameter and 4 cm in            depth.        -   Flower buds.—Conical in shape, an average of 4 cm in length            and 1.5 cm in width prior to opening, color 155C with sepal            portion a blend of 138A and 138B, glabrous surface.        -   Corolla lobes.—An average of 6 per flower, arranged in a            single whorl, slightly overlapping at base, primarily            obovate in shape, an average of 2.6 cm in length and 2 cm in            width, rounded to broadly acute apex, margins entire, base            cuneate and fused into the corolla tube, aspect is primarily            horizontal and slightly wavy, upper and lower surface is            satiny, smooth and velvety, color upper surface when opening            and fully open155C, color lower surface when opening and            fully open 155C blended with areas of 2D, fading to a blend            of 11B and 11C on both surfaces.        -   Corolla tube.—An average of 2.2 cm in length and 5 mm in            width, surface texture of outer surfaces are glabrous,            satiny and slightly ribbed, surface texture of inner surface            is pubescent, color of inside and outside surface is 145B to            145C in color.        -   Calyx.—An average of 2.3 cm in length and 1.3 cm in            diameter, campanulate with free lobes held early upright.        -   Sepals.—6, 60% un-fused from the calyx, glossy and glabrous            on inner and outer surfaces, 2.3 cm in length with free            lobes; 1.5 cm in in length, 2 mm in width, and lanceolate in            shape, a blend of 138A and 138B in color on inner and outer            surface.        -   Peduncles.—Oval in shape, average of 5 mm in length and 3 mm            in diameter, glossy and glabrous surface, 138A in color.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, stigma; prominent and elliptic-obovate            in shape, 3A in color, style; an average of 2 cm in length            and 2 mm in diameter, 4D in color, ovary; 2-carpellate, 5 mm            in length and 2 mm in width, oblong in shape, 4C in color,            numerous shiny ovules.        -   Androecium.—An average of 6 stamens, filaments are adnate to            inner corolla tube and 145D in color, anthers; alternate to            petal lobes, an average of 1.1 cm in length and 1 mm in            width, 177D in color, pollen is abundant and 3A in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—None observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gardenia plant named‘PS-2013-3’ as herein illustrated and described.